Today I anticipated the news from my mom. A few days ago the doctor was very concerned she had a “spot” on her lungs that he had not seen previously. Of course my first thought turned to the “C” word–cancer. Both of my grandmothers had cancer and now I was afraid that it had struck one of my best friends–my mom.
After her doctor’s visit she called back to say that the second scan showed no problems and no “spot!” Praise the Lord! How wonderful to hear good news!
However, what if the news had been different? What if it was cancer? Would that have meant God had failed?
No, God never fails! Unless the rapture happens first and life takes its normal course there will come a day when we will get the news that she does have cancer, or she has had a heart attack or stroke. Something, at some point will bring her physical life to an end. Though I pray God will give us many, many more healthy years together, none of us have the promise of tomorrow. Whether I say goodbye to her in 1 year or in 10 years, if life takes its normal course I will have to say goodbye.
Bad news–yes, for me, for a while. For her, not at all! Her soul will be set free from her decaying, fleshly body and be ushered into the presence of the One who saved her soul. She will be free from her knee pain, hip pain, continual headaches and stomach issues. Set free from problems caused by others. No, what may be bad news for those who will desperately miss her, will be glorious news for her!
What will be bad news for me, because of the void left by her absence, will soon turn into good news as well. She will be there waiting for me on the other side, along with my Savior who redeemed us both. So today, regardless of the news I may have received, it would ultimately be good news. That’s why the Gospel is such good news–because for the Christians “we are winners either way!”
